USA Rice Daily

A USA Rice delegation met with leaders of Fecarroz, the Central America Rice Federation, here this week for wide-ranging discussions on the current rice market situation and export opportunities, as well as concerns Fecarroz members wanted to raise with their U.S. counterparts that vary by country.

Twelve members of the U.S. Agricultural Export Development Council (USAEDC) representing a broad cross-section of agricultural groups met yesterday with Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to discuss the future of USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) programs. President Trump's 2018 budget completely eliminates funding for the Market Access Program (MAP) and Foreign Market Development (FMD).

According to the International Food Information Council Foundation’s 12th Annual Food and Health Survey, food information overload is having a detrimental effect on decisions Americans make when it comes to diet and health, however, there’s good news for rice in some areas.

U.S. rice exports to Mexico in the first four months of 2017 are up an impressive 23 percent over last year, bringing the U.S. market share to 93 percent, the highest since 2013. According to official Government of Mexico (GOM) sources, total U.S. rice exports to Mexico were 354,000 MT while third country exports were down nearly 60 percent, at 25,000 MT.

Arkansas Congressman Rick Crawford, long a leader advocating for changing course on U.S.-Cuba policy has previously introduced legislation to help normalize trade relations between the countries. Despite his efforts, and the support of the U.S. rice industry, earlier legislation has not advanced. Crawford is now pushing for a compromise solution he struck with Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) that will keep the discussion about Cuba moving forward.

Yesterday, USA Rice staff from Louisiana organized a tour of the Louisiana rice industry for Congressman Clay Higgins. Higgins was accompanied by in-state and Washington, DC staff because he felt it was important for him and his staff to learn first-hand about Louisiana rice. In his introductory comments, Higgins said, "I'm interested in serving Louisiana and what I don't know, I'm willing to learn."